Obama, GOP Duel Over Rising College Expenses

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama would make $2,500 tax credits for college expenses permanent and expand Pell grants for students from lower-earning families. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan would instead focus on the need to curb tuition increases that they blame on Obama.

The different approaches to coping with growing college costs highlight one way Obama and the Republicans trying to replace him in the White House are vying for young voters and their parents.

Tuitions and fees for four-year public colleges have grown 72 percent above inflation the past decade. Last year they averaged $8,244. Meanwhile, student loan debt has reached $914 billion and the average borrower owes more than $24,000.

Romney and Ryan contend that the flood of federal dollars through tax credits and Pell grants are rewarding tuition increases.

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